Extraction of total RNA in the developing chicken forebrain

Gene expression of Gama-Aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor subunits may change during development. Procedures in molecular biology are required to understand the gene expression profile GABAA R in chicken. The outcome of the results depends on good-quality high-molecular-weight RNA. Several procedures can be used to isolate RNA from the brain of chicken; however, most of them are time-consuming and require disruption of cells or freeze and thaw in the presence of RNase inhibitors. The aim of this experiment was isolation of RNA from chicken embryonic brain tissues using appropriate RNA extraction kit.

Fertilized eggs from Ross breed (Gallus gallus) were incubated at 38°C and 60% relative humidity in a forced-draft incubator and were turned every 3 h. After 3, 7, 14 and 20 days of incubation, eggs were cooled on ice to induce deep anesthesia. Then whole brains were dissected out. As brains could not be excised in a reproducible way from earlier embryos (embryonic days 4 and 6), whole heads were collected. Chicken embryos between day 7 to 20 and 1 day after birth were decapitated, and their brains removed. Samples were immediately inserted into lysis buffer and stored at -70°C. Total RNA was isolated and a contaminating genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was digested. RNA quality was checked using gel electrophoresis.

We obtained 52 mg/ml to 745 mg/ml with A260/280 1.7-2.2. Only high-quality RNA, with no signs of degradation, was used for further experiments.

In conclusion, protocol was found to be suitable for the isolation of total RNA from embryonic chicken cells.